A 30-year-old Cresco man who was driving a U-Haul truck on Little Gap Road in Lower Towamensing Township was under the influence of drugs when the vehicle slammed into a Ford Focus injuring a Palmerton man.

State police at Lehighton said Alex Stewart was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton on various charges, including a felony charge of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, and was committed to the Carbon County Correctional Facility, Nesquehoning, in lieu of bail.

The incident happened at 7:32 a.m. Tuesday when the U-Haul truck was traveling west on Little Gap Road and the driver suddenly passed out, police said. Police said the truck crashed into the Focus that was traveling eastbound, dragging it 100 feet.

Police said the victim sustained severe injuries and was transported to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.

Police said the Cresco man was administered several standard field sobriety tests and a drug recognition expert evaluation and was found to be under the influence of controlled substances. A chemical test of his blood was then administered. Results are pending.